I don’t usually focus on politics, but today all USA-ians have the opportunity to change our country and our influence on the world. It is your duty as a citizen to get out there and vote. Of course, I have definite opinions about who are the best candidates, but my haranguing you here won’t affect…
Category: inspiration
Publication: The Princess and Her Pig
On line now at New Fairy Tales magazine, you will find my poem “The princess and her pig” with a cute illustration and a picture of the real princess, Sophie with her pig. The magazine is chock full of gorgeous illustrations and wonderful stories and poems. Enjoy! (If you do enjoy it, please consider giving…
Need a Push?
November creeps upon us and it is the time of both NaNoWriMo and NaBloPoMo; that is National Novel Writing Month and National Blog Posting Month. The latter is actually a rolling deadline: “Post every day for a month. That’s all you have to do.” It’s about committing to building a habit. Dust off your blog…
Too Much Writing
A friend suggested I need to take a break from writing, but I can’t think without writing, so I’m not sure how to do that. But being a little preoccupied at present with work (mostly writing), I cheat with the blog today, offering some words of wisdom from wiser heads than mine about this madness…
Writing and Not Writing
Yes, I have a thousand tongues,And nine and ninety-nine lie.Though I strive to use the one,It will make no melody at my will,But is dead in my mouth. From Stephen Crane’s collection The Black Riders and Other Lines, better known for the lines, “because it is bitter, and because it is my heart,” which also…
Writing Whuffie
In the wake of David Foster Wallace‘s suicide, there has been an outpouring of reminiscences and grief, as one might expect in the wake of a celebrated writer’s precipitous exit. In the mainstream media, most of it has been from men about his age who found in him a kindred spirit, although I have to…
Fabrications
I’ve decided the true story of my injury is very dull. I need suggestions of tales I might tell others, including my students whom I will be seeing tomorrow. Any ideas? The bruising is getting more colorful, as it tends to do. Will have to get another picture soon. Still no word on the x-rays,…
Leeching
There’s a somewhat ridiculous scholar in Tom Stoppard’s India Ink who says, “This is why God made writers, so the rest of us can publish.” I love that quote because it speaks to an uncomfortable tendency in my academic field (and in many others, too) to feel like a kind of leech. We loot the…
Visit George’s Garden
Designed for the Chelsea Flower Show, this garden is a beautiful tribute to everybody’s favorite gardener. Stop by and enjoy a little of the peaceful beauty. I shall daydream about Friar Park. [Coincidentally, this is my 777th post on the blog.]
Publication: Fluorescence
I’m always the last to know: “Fluorescence” is up at The Harrow, that swanky logo’d journal of fun stuff. Check it out and read the other stories, poems and reviews. Let ’em know what you think (or even donate to the cause of good writing). If I’ve earned a little bragging right for this story…